With the $1-million Queenston Park officially opened last Saturday, Coquitlam city council now has its sights set on two more neighbourhood parks for Burke Mountain residents.
This week, city council okayed detailed design plans for Leigh and Victoria parks at a combined cost of $3 million though neither has room for on-site parking.
Construction of Leigh Park, located south of Roxton Avenue and directly north of Leigh elementary, is due to start this fall while nearby Victoria Park, on the soon-to-be three-laned Victoria Drive, is set to begin construction in the spring or summer of 2016.
The new 3.7-acre Leigh Park is designed to have a bike skills track to make use of the 10% grade plus an off-leash area for smaller dogs as well as a picnic space and walking trails.
By comparison, Victoria Park is already established on 3.6 acres and has older playing fields, which will be upgraded with a new super 8 turf soccer field, a bigger grass playing area, a central plaza and playground and a multi-use sports court, for more active users.
The bill for Victoria Park is $1.7 million, city parks GM Raul Allueva wrote in his report.
Michelle Hunt, Coquitlam's parks planning director, told The Tri-City News both parks aim to serve the neighbourhood only, with residents walking or cycling to the green spaces.
As for the newly opened Queenston Park, which drew thousands of families over the weekend, Hunt said city staff will monitor the site to see if more amenities are warranted.
Coquitlam is looking to build a few more neighbourhood-only parks on Burke including at Princeton and Mason avenues. In the past five years, the city has opened Marguerite, Millard Orchard and Galloway parks in the growing northeast Coquitlam community.
Other Coquitlam news:
TOWN HALL
The first of two town hall meetings scheduled for this year will be held on Saturday.
Residents, business owners and groups can sound off on city-related issues between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. either in person or online.
And city council and managers will be on hand to respond to questions.
To take part, visit city hall (3000 Guildford Way) on May 2 or watch the live broadcast via coquitlam.ca/webcasts.
Starting at 9:45 a.m., questions can also be submitted by email ([email protected]), Facebook (Facebook.com/cityofcoquitlam) or Twitter (@cityofcoquitlam or #coqthm2015).
All comments and questions will be considered as part of the public record.
@jwarrenTC
